Arc Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak―but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life―and her future―forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling Crown of Midnight. Packed with heart-pounding action, fierce new characters, and swoon-worthy romance, this third book will enthrall readers from start to finish

Everything you know, or you think you know about the Throne of Glass series will be turned on its head.

Celaena is back in the third saga, but she isn't back in the finest sense. She must go back to the begin and unlearn all she's learned about herself, her present and her future. And who will be in her future.

The story starts and everyone is bitter. Chaol sent Celaena away. Dorian's angry. We learn of Rowan and what he might be as he spies on Celaena and Celaena herself is doing her usual. Getting into fight, stealing, trying to stay alive whilst spying on the crown prince of Wendlyn... Rowan leads Celaena on her quest, but Celaena becomes undone as she visits Queen Maeve in Wendlyn. Maeve wants her to become Queen but to achieve her goal Celaena must become Aelin Galathynius. The girl she once was. Through many throw-backs we learn of her childhood, of how she escaped her parents murder and learn more about her cousin Aedion Ashryver. The king's formidable General.

New characters are also introduced. Emrys and Luca are stand-outs. Bringing up the story behind the wyverns we get to know Manon Blackbeak. Again, another character who, similarly, is not happy with her lot in life and plots to overthrow the witches. Throughout Heir, interspersed at regular intervals we learn how the king is planning to use the witches and wyverns as his main plan of attack. However reading about Manon's history and getting an idea of what she see's in the future we know one of them will be disappointed with that outcome.

The majority of the book centres on Aelin and Prince Rowan Whitethorn. An enormous character to bring into the story which is already bulging with big characters. At first we think he's a big bully but it soon turns out that his heart is as big as anyone's, given the right motive to release it. Aelin and Rowan begin a brutal partnership, with Rowan as her trainer, and soon enough there are figments of camaraderie happening and a hope that Rowan will be the one to bring out the goodness in Aelin/Celaena.

As for Chaol, well, he turns his back on his best friend, Dorian, and initially the future isn't bright for him. He decides he's more fit to hiding in shadows but forms an unusual alliance with Aedion. After Crown I had high hopes for Chaol and Celaena but we quickly learn she's outgrown him. He does however redeem himself numerous times throughout the story and where once he looked like his path was ever darker, a stream of light crosses him near the end.

The lands as we know them are all build more solid with Heir of Fire. We can actually feel the scope of what Aelin is wanting to achieve. Can she become the Queen that Maeve thinks she could be? But we also get a new glimpse of the dark world the King would turn the lands to, and how he's been able to hold on to magic while others have had it taken away.

Throughout Heir Aelin has exposed herself in the most daunting of ways. She's opened up and has dropped the tough girl facade she been holding on to these last ten years. Finally near the end, you find yourself rooting for her, as she overcomes Maeve, the Valg prince's, and with unlikely fr-enemies that have joined the fold you have to remember to breathe, and hope she'll win in the end. If only for her sanity....

CBx

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Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses series, as well as a USA Today and international bestselling author. Sarah wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in thirty-five languages. A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies.